Help: Rossendales and my stupidity

down-in-the-dumps_2

I was visited by a calm pleasant gent from Rossendales and I stupidly signed a walking posession. I owe CT about £3000 with charges. I sent an offer of payment in along with a cheque of £100. About a month later I was visited by a bailiff from rossendales wanting the full amount or removal of goods. Well I broke down as I'm currently off sick with severe depression and we came to an agreement. I'd already sent a further £100 at the start of the month but was told they would never agree to such to such a small offer on my debt. The bailiff took a payment of £400 from me on the day and we agreed to me paying £300 a month. More than I can really afford.

Anyway, I paid £290 over the phone on the 1st Aug and today I paid £280. Slightly less than agreed but a substantial amount of money. So that's now £1160 in a 3 month period I've paid out.

However, today the Bailiff returned to tell me I was failing to meet the agreed payment plan and that I should've been paying on the 14th of the month. So she expected me to pay a further £300 out in a month when I'd paid £500 out already. Now she tells me the only way to keep the agreement is to pay £300 on the 14th of this month. EXCUSE ME! Paying such a substantial amount in the first place put me way overdrawn that month and I'm not allowed an overdraft so it cost me a fortune in charges.

I accept I was stupid in signing the WPO but in my defence I was very ill with depression at the time and only just starting the treatment. But although I accept I signed the thing surely this is overkill? No way can I find more money this month. I think the amount I've paid over last 3 months is plenty.

Can anyone help? I'm desperate here what can I do?

Ian

down-in-the-dumps_2

Can I do anything about this? please help!

Oeillade

I was in the same position as you and I thought these private debt collectors were sent by the court. THEY ARE NOT. They really haven't got many powers and mostly use threats to get you to pay up.

They add charges on and even charged me for paying by standing order! That way, you'll never be free of them.

How I got out of it was by paying the council online. Once they have accepted a payment from you then they have TAKEN THE DEBT BACK and the private debt collectors can't do anything.

Decide how much you can afford and pay the council on line on their website. Write to the council and send a copy to the private debt collectors saying that you are paying the council directly and that they have accepted the payment and have taken the debt back.

Keep paying every month and be firm with the council and the private debt collectors, they will try making a fuss at first but just keep paying the council.

I did this and have nearly cleared my debt and haven't heard from the private debt collectors for nearly two years. And yes, before I had done my research I had signed a walking possession order too!

When I have cleared the debt, I will take the council and the private debt collectors to court for the charges they added as they were unreasonable nearly doubling my debt and by their own code of conduct the charges have to be reasonable.

Good luck and keep fighting.

RAS

Hi

Our resident expert is Herbie21, who actually runs a dedicated website, see below.

If you send her the name of the company and the name of the bailiffs involved and she will try and help you.

Please do PM Herbie21.

www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk

down-in-the-dumps_2

Thank you all so much for the very quick responses.

This site is brilliant. I'll see if I can find the old reference numbers.

Ian

down-in-the-dumps_2

Tried to PM herbie 21 but their inbox is full, clearly a popular expert.

I'll keep trying though

I

Aylana

Hi, I have recently been going through something similar with Rossendales. They are a horrid company and will try to bully you into paying more than you can afford as you have unfortunately experienced. We keep being served with 24 hour notices to remove our goods and then they don't turn up!

Keep trying Herbie and have a read of her website. There is also a phone number on there to speak to her if you find you can't wait for some reason. Maybe in the meantime contact your local council (the debt recovery section) and explain how the bailiffs are behaving and how it is affecting your health and your finances. Some people have gotten the debt recalled by the council if the bailiffs are really causing them problems. Don't be afraid of explaining to them just how severe your depression is! They are responsible for the conduct of their debt collectors and any negative effects they have on your health!!

edited to add: Also remember you have the right to sell or hide any personal belongings that aren't on the walking possession if they threaten to come and take your stuff!

moneymare

Oeillade wrote: »

How I got out of it was by paying the council online. Once they have accepted a payment from you then they have TAKEN THE DEBT BACK and the private debt collectors can't do anything.

Decide how much you can afford and pay the council on line on their website. Write to the council and send a copy to the private debt collectors saying that you are paying the council directly and that they have accepted the payment and have taken the debt back.

Keep paying every month and be firm with the council and the private debt collectors, they will try making a fuss at first but just keep paying the council.

Not strictly true, I'm afraid. The Council will notify the Bailiffs of the payment and therefore the balance will be reduced, but in accepting the payment it is in no way 'taking the debt back' as is suggested.

Oeillade

I researched this very thoroughly at the time and they do take the debt back. I think this is proved by the fact that I haven't heard a thing from the baillifs in two years.

Oeillade

Refuse to recognise or enter into any negotiation with any bailiff sent to collect council tax or PCN's. Do not let them in, do not sign anything and never ever give them any money. This renders them practically impotent. All they can do is pass your file back to the Council, which is exactly what you want!

Always contact the council and in the case of council tax, start paying the arrears. Force them to take payment, as stated before the automated systems are an easy way in to do this.